Amar’e Stoudemire: I’m 50-50 on Staying with Suns

Even if Stoudemire does not opt out, he will still be looking for a long-term extension, or he will be a free agent next year.

“Maybe it’s making it a little harder for them,” Stoudemire said. “It’s always going to be 50-50. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, we’ll just have to wait until this summer. But I’m not focused on that right now.”

In each of the last three seasons, Stoudemire has been the subject of trade speculation. In the winter, much of it focused on whether he would be sent to Cleveland to team with James, to Miami as a partner for Wade, or even to San Antonio to team up in the frontcourt with Duncan.

At this year’s All-Star Game, Stoudemire said that the annual trade rumors bothered him.

“I don’t understand why,” he told reporters in February. “It’s not being explained to me why every year there’s always trade talk with me being involved. It’s a little difficult to deal with. They never really explain why the trade talk is coming, why they want to trade me. I’ve done a lot of work in the community. I’ve been trouble-free forever, so I just don’t understand.”

Call it a gut feeling, but I can’t see Amar’e leaving Phoenix this summer. The Suns are looking pretty strong right now, and STAT is happier with the franchise as a consequence. All Phoenix has to do is extend a reasonable offer and they’ll be able to lock him down for a few more seasons. – CYE